Tense situation in Armenia caused by rigged elections, MP says

The reason for today's tense situation in Armenia is the rigged presidential and parliamentary elections of 2003, chairman of the Union of National Democrats, deputy of the Armenian National Assembly Arshak Sadoian has told journalists.

In his opinion, a wrong structure of the ruling system has been created, which gives too much power to the authorities. In particular it allows one man to dictate his will to the people and bear no responsibility for it.

In order to fight against illegal actions in the course of elections in Armenia, Arshak Sadoian finds it necessary to create groups of 10-15 people attached to 1850 polling stations and ready to fight against violations of the law at any moment. In his words, only in this case it will be possible to hold fair elections in Armenia and build civil society.

The chairman of the Union of National Democrats thinks that new presidential and parliamentary elections should be held right after the adoption of a constitutional reform. Besides, the modified variant of the constitution should not give Robert Kocharian an opportunity to become president of the country for the third time.